The attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, has described as commendable, the legal aid services provided to over 57,000 Nigerians in the first quarter of 2022.
Malami, who spoke at the formal renaming of Legal Aid Council, LAC, Headquarters building after late Chief Chimezie Ikeazor, encouraged the management and staff of the council to continue to work hard in rendering legal services to Nigerian.
He was silent on the number of people that sought assistance from the Legal Aid Council within the first quarter of 2022 .
According to the minister, the council has also recovered over N57m as claims and compensation for victims of motor accidents and provided defense for 224 suspects arraigned before the Federal High Court for certain offences.
The minister said, “I wish to seize this opportunity to encourage the management and staff of the Legal Aid Council to continue to work hard in rendering legal services to Nigerians, so that the sacrifices of the founding fathers such as Chief Ikeazor, SAN, would not be in vain. Indeed, the success of the Council is only measured by the ability of indigent Nigerians to access justice in an efficient, timely and effective manner.
“It is gratifying to note that since its establishment, the Legal Aid Council has never relent in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities. As at the second quarter of this year alone, the Council the establishment of which was led by Chief Chimezie Ikeazor, SAN, was able to process Legal Aid Service to 57,134 citizens, recovered over N57m as claims/compensation for victims of motor accidents and provided defense for 224 suspects arrainged before the Federal High Court for certain offences.
“Similarly, the Special Task Force of the Council facilitated the release of 30 Awaiting Trial Inmates in Keffi Correctional Centre in addition to filing application of enforcement of fundamental rights of 101 Awaiting Trial Inmates.
“The Police Duty Solicitors Scheme of the Council currently operate in eleven States across the country. This operation has successfully diverted over 7,000 person from the Criminal Justice System and 90% of these persons left police custody during the first 5 days of arrest.
” It is therefore a thing of joy and indeed my pleasure to stand with legal friends and colleagues on this auspicious day, to celebrate the acknowledgement of the sacrifices made by Chief Ikeazor by naming the Legal Aid Council Headquarters after him.
” It is my hope that by this great feat his name will remain immortalized within the living memory of all of us in the legal community.”